Tag Archives: speeding

Do parents make good driving instructors?

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Roadside assistance NRMA

Are you a good driving instructor?

Almost one-in-three learner drivers have been in a car with a speeding driver, according to a new NRMA Safer Driving School survey.

The survey of 300 learner drivers across NSW and the ACT found 32% have been exposed to speeding while their parents or other supervisors were driving.

The survey also found learner drivers were being exposed to their parents’ bad habits, with the worst offending habits being:

  • Not having both hands on the wheel (38%)
  • Speeding (32%)
  • Talking on a mobile phone without a hands-free device (19%)
  • Failing to indicate when turning (19%); and
  • Road rage (16%)

NRMA Motoring & Services Director Coral Taylor says young drivers will pick up on the driving habits of their supervisors – good and bad.

“All supervisors need to remember that when a learner is sitting next to them in the car they will copy the way they drive, so they need to be a model of good behaviour,” Ms Taylor said.

Are you a good driving instructor or do you think you need to brush up on your driving skills before supervising your kids?

Safety cameras – Combining red-light and speed cameras

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Over the next four years, the RTA is replacing existing red-light cameras with safety cameras at 200 locations across NSW.

In December 2009, the RTA began to combine red-light cameras with fixed speed cameras at 50 locations across the state. The safety camera is capable of detecting speeding vehicles, vehicles running red lights, or both.

No new ‘combined’ offences have been created. Drivers will face a penalty notice and associated demerit points for each offence committed.

Safety cameras are being introduced to make intersections safer and reduce the number of crashes at traffic lights.

According to the RTA, “Evaluations of camera enforcement of red-light offences conducted in Australia and overseas have shown this type of enforcement is clearly effective in reducing casualty crashes at intersections. When the evaluations were considered together it is estimated that camera enforcement of red-light offences reduces the number of casualty crashes at intersections by around 30 per cent.”

Intersections with safety cameras will be signposted accordingly. However, motorists need to be aware that there is only one sign warning of the new safety camera, unlike existing fixed speed cameras which have three warning signs in advance.

For more information, please visit the RTA’s Safety camera page.

Will safety cameras reduce the number of crashes at intersections? Will they make you slow down?

School zones – have your say

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NRMA President Wendy Machin recently commented on the importance of flashing lights in school zones to indicate when they are in operation.

“Children’s safety is paramount – drivers’ awareness needs to be drawn to the presence of school children and that’s what flashing lights achieve,” she said.

However, the NRMA has concerns about the rate flashing lights are being rolled out.

A study conducted by the RTA in 2006 “indicated that flashing lights were effective in reducing vehicle speed outside schools during the operation of the 40 km/h school speed zone.”

In spite of this, only 10 per cent NSW’s 3,100 schools have flashing lights, with 100 sets per year being scheduled for installation over the next four years.

School zones were introduced to NSW in December 2002 to reduce the chance of fatalities in school areas. They ensure that motorists slow down to 40km/h during times when children are on the way to and from school.

The problem with this is that it can be unclear to motorists when school zones are in operation. School Zones come into effect only on school days. Therefore, during school and public holidays the school zones do not operate. This can be confusing to anybody who does not have kids – although it’s not an excuse if you get caught speeding.

For more information, visit the RTA School Zones page.

Have you found School Zones easier to identify when they have flashing lights? Is there more that could be done to improve the way School Zones work?

The holiday road toll

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The road toll over the recent Christmas/New Year holiday period was one of Australia’s lowest in a decade. When the holiday period officially ended the toll was at 46, far below the 62 and 78 in the preceding years.

Victoria fared the worst with 17 deaths and WA recorded 11. There was a huge improvement in NSW where eight fatalities were recorded, compared to the 19 last year.

But, with the ideal road toll being zero, more can of course be done.

Heavy penalties apply to those caught drink driving, including immediate suspension of driver’s licence and potential jail terms.

Driver fatigue is a well known and heavily advertised factor of safety on long drives. The RTA provides driver reviver sites along major highways and uses billboards along these roads warning of the danger of driving more than 2 hours without a break.

Speeding is another factor that contributes to crashes. Again we have been told about the dangers of speeding whether it be by advertising, doubling demerit points, increasing the number of police patrols on the road and showing what the results of speeding can do to drivers and their families.

Given that the road toll has dropped, it could be assumed that advertising and public education campaigns, billboards and the increased penalties are working to make our roads safer.

However, lives are still being lost on our roads. What else can we do to reduce the number of crashes causing injury and death during the holiday period?